It all began on September 27, 2015…AWESOME leaders set sail
to San Diego from all across the country
for the CSCMP Conference
First stop on September 27: The “Women at Work session,” sponsored by Penn State Executive Programs and powered by AWESOME.
Four AWESOME leaders gave candid and sometimes surprising insights into how networks have helped their careers.
Panelists: (front row) Michelle Halkerston, President & CEO, Hassett Express, LLC and Natalie Putnam, VP, Integrated Marketing Strategy & Planning, Ryder System, Inc.; (standing) Molly VandenHeuvel, former Senior Director Product Supply Chain & Operations, Kraft Foods Group, and Kristen Lacy, Director, Logistics Management, Altria Group Distribution Company. Moderator: Pete Steinberg is Adjunct Faculty, Penn State Executive Programs.
That evening…the AWESOME Networking reception at BiCE — good spot, good food, good people.
The next morning, bright and early, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz officially opened the CSCMP conference and said supply chain is the primary co-author of strategy for the business.
Then, in a room packed with supply chain professionals, an AWESOME panel of C-suite leaders, moderated by Executive Director Nancy Nix, shared “Leadership Lessons from the Top.”
Panelists: Ann Drake, CEO, DSC Logistics and Founder of AWESOME; Laurel Junk, Chief Supply Chain and Procurement Officer, Enterprise Shared Services, Kaiser Permanente; Debbie Lentz, SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Toys”R”Us Inc.; and Kathy Wengel, Worldwide VP, Johnson & Johnson Supply Chain (JJSC). Moderator: Nancy Nix, AWESOME Executive Director.
Their career journeys included previous careers, geographic moves, bold choices, a spirit of adventure, and the belief that supply chain offers a tremendous opportunity for women.
Monday afternoon, AWESOME leader Mary Long, VP of Logistics & Network Planning for Domino’s, moderated a panel powered by AWESOME on the topic of “The Importance of Diversity in Strategic Sourcing.”
Moderator: Mary Long, VP, Logistics & Network Planning, Domino’s Pizza; Panelists: Cathy L. Kutch, Director of Supplier Relations & Diversity, Kellogg Company; Eugene Campbell, VP, Supplier Diversity, The Walt Disney Company; and Anu Hans, VP and Chief Procurement Officer, Enterprise Supply Chain, Johnson & Johnson
More than 100 women stepped up to roles as panelists or moderators at this year’s conference.
On Monday night, surrounded by stars and the lights of the city, AWESOME Leader Kathy Wengel, Worldwide VP, Johnson & Johnson Supply Chain (JJSC), was presented with the 2015 Thinkers & Movers Award by DSC Logistics CEO Ann Drake.
Some of Kathy’s J&J colleagues were on hand to celebrate and congratulate her…
…along with other supply chain leaders.
Kathy’s co-recipient was Mike Duffy, President, Medical Products, Cardinal Health. AWESOME members recognize Mike as a panelist from the 2015 Symposium.
Throughout the Conference, five recipients of AWESOME Excellence in Education Scholarships attended sessions and connected with professionals.
Scholars with (left) Nancy Nix and (center) Ann Drake: (left to right) Danielle Shields, Syracuse University; Cindy Liu, University of Maryland; Jessica Sun, Michigan State; Darby Hogan, Penn State; and Samantha Herold, University of Tennessee.
AWESOME at the CSCMP Conference:
As one observer said,
“The profession is changing in a very good way,
and there’s substance behind the face as well.”